St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-12-31
To be continued.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 1887.
Congress, although in session two
weeks, has AS yet accomplished very
little work, mainly for the reason that
speaker Carlisle, owing to the unusual
pressure brought to bear upon him for
choice committee places, has been
obliged to defer the appointment of his
committees until Jan. 4th. The only
really important committee thus far Or
ganized is that on elections, which for
reasons personal to himself Mr.. Car
Isle requested the House to appoint,
one of its duties being to decide the is
sue between Carlisle and ThObe. APP
pareDtly there is no good cause for
contest. Still as Ole has been institu-
ted by the misguided labor reformer, So
called, it must be disposed of according
to the forms Of law. There can be lit
tie doubt of the validity of the Ken
lucky statesman's claim to his seat.
1t is already evident that much of the
time of Congress during the present
session will be uselessly consumed in the
discussion of purely political questions;
but on the eve of what is destined to be
one of the most exiting and closely co.,
tested Presidential campaigns in the
countrv's history, this is perhaps I'M
avodable, The first political TRADE of
the session was delivered, without the
slightest provocation, in the House by
the Republican leader, Mr.. Reed, of
Maine, being Il rather feeble and t1atu-
lent arraignment OF the Democracy on
the tariff question. However, a few
ringing sentences from Messrs. Cox
and Hatch sutficed to effectually silence
the batteries of the bury Boanerges of
the Republican party.
In the Senate that notorious cham
piUn of fraud, and yOte-stealer, "Bill'
Chandler, has presented an indict-
ment against four sovereign States
South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and
Louisiana, proposing to regulate their
Congressional elections through the
medium of Federal intervention. Chan
dler's idea OF regulating elections was
exemplitled by the Republican rape of
the electoral votes Of three of these
same States III the canvass of 1867,
and Bill realizes that the support of
these conmonaities is necessary for
Republican success next year. But
Chandler will get nothing but u. little
cheap political capital out of his parti-
san resolution. Probably the Senate
bill that will excite the most interest and
discussion is that of Senator Cullum,
providing for the United States postal
telegraph, approprating four million
dollars for that purpose aud designating
a lumber OF the principal cities of the
country to be connected by the pro-
posed lines. The bill also provides for
the appointment and regulation of the
employees of the postal telegraph. This
measure like the Blair educational
bill is IL long and significant step in the
Il + Al nd
in direct conflict with the spirit and
tendencies of our republican system.
This being the case, [ do not believe
the Democrats can consistently sup
port either measure. But if both bills
should pass there are good reasons for
believing that the presidential veto
would be lnterposed.
During the early days of the session,
while there Is little business to demand
their attention, many of the gay and
festive Congressman, who have doubt
less forgotten their marital VOWS, are
yielding their devotion TO the charms
Of the giddy fair ones OF the Capital.
In the patent office Il few days since a
sa!acious scandal came to light, the
principals being Congressman from
Kentucky and a petite blonde beauty
of The office. A model attendant dis
covered them IN compromising posi-
ton, and hence the public expose. The
fair clerk is protege of her admirer,
he having secured her place last win
ter. Pending Investigation of the case,
the bewitching blonde is suspended
from duty This is mentioned as a
common phase of Congressional life.
The indications are th,-t there is some
opposition to the confirmation of La
mars nomination, but not enough to de-
feat it. 1t is hardly probable that the
matter will be taken up until after the
holiday recess; then the three most i'm
portant nominations will be acted upon
in their regular order-Lamar, Villas
and Dickinson.
The recent reception in this city of
two distinguished Irish members of the
British Parliament, was an impressive
demonstration of American national
sympathy for the sutftrings of Ireland,
and fitting expression was given to this
feeling 10y the eloquent utterances of
several prominent Congressman.